PT XL Axiata Tbk (XL Axiata)’s network managed to get through the long holiday of Christmas up to New Year 2021 very well without any significant obstacles. During the period of December 24, 2020 up to January 2, 2021, nationally, the average traffic of XL Axiata data service usage by customers increased by 15%, with the highest increase reached 70%. As estimated, streaming services dominated the increase in service traffic. On the other hand, voice traffic decreased by 6% and SMS traffic increased by 2% compared to normal days.
Director of Technology of XL Axiata, I Gede Darmayusa said, "The pandemic does not necessarily stop people from celebrating Christmas and New Year. Although they are not free to do outdoor activities, they can still fill the holiday period and celebrate the two big holidays with various digital activities. This can be seen from the data traffic in residential areas which has increased by about 7% compared to normal days, with almost all types of services,the traffic ata also increased. Some residential areas/housing that have experienced this increase, especially housing in the city of Jakarta, Medan, Semarang, Pekanbaru, Palembang, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Malang, Palembang, Cibubur, Cirebon and so on. "
The highest increase in data traffic was on Christmas Day, between December, 24 – 25, 2020, on average it increased by more than 3% compared to normal days, with the highest increase reached around 17%. When compared to the previous year's Christmas, the traffic increased more than 40%.
Meanwhile, for New Year's traffic, between December 31 – January 1, 2021, the average data traffic increased 10% compared to normal days. The highest increase reached around 70%. If compared to the same period in the previous year, there was data traffic increase up to 40%.
In terms of service types, traffic in streaming services in general has increased by 6%, including streaming videos for Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, which have increased by 6%, movies and TV channels (Nietflix, Iflix, Viu, Vidio) also increased by 4%, music (Spotify, Joox, Google Music, Youtube Music) increased 2%.
Furthermore, instant messenger services in general were up 19%. Those services included Whatsapp, Messenger, LINE, Telegram, and Hangouts). Meanwhile, social media services (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, LinkedIn) increased by 11%. Video Call (via Whatsapp and Hangouts) decreased by -14%, and VoIP (via Whatsapp and Messenger) increased by 11%.
Traffic to access online shopping services (Lazada, Shopee, Tokopedia) has decreased by -22%, while traffic to traveling services (Traveloka, Agoda, Tiket.com) has increased by around 13%. And as usual during the Long holiday period, traffic to road map services (Google Map and Apple Map) also increased by 2%, while traffic for access to digital payment services (Dana, Ovo) decreased by 6%.
People are Traveling
For some people, a pandemic also does not prevent them from traveling between cities, even between provinces, including between islands. This can be seen from the increase in traffic that has occurred in a number of areas that all this time have been the routine destinations for people traveling during the long holiday, both Christmas and New Year and Eid. On the other hand, traffic in the Jabodetabek area and other big cities has decreased.
"In addition, the increase and decrease in traffic by region may also be influenced by policies of the central and regional governments in limiting the movement of residents in order to prevent the spreading of Covid-19. During the year-end holiday period this time, service traffic on the XL Axiata network increased only in a small part of the province, in contrast to previous years. Even then, the increase was not as high as usual, "added Gede.
The increase in XL Axiata's traffic on average by region during the Christmas and New Year 2021 period, indeed only occurred in Central Java by 10%, West Java by 7%, and East Java by 7%. Meanwhile, the Jabodetabek area experienced a decrease in traffic of up to -3%. The popular tourism destinations of Bali and Lombok, which usually experience a significant increase in traffic, this year it was seen an increase of only 4% and 10% compared to normal days.
Based on the city, the highest increase in traffic occurred in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (Sleman and Bantul Regency) by 77% and 75%, respectively, Semarang City by 28%, Cirebon City by 11%, and Bogor City by 10%.
Meanwhile, when viewed from locations that are identical to the crowds, the increase in traffic that occurred this year was not as high as in previous years. The existence of restrictions on visitors and warnings not to travel may have resulted in less crowds at these locations.
The highest increase in traffic in the airport area occurred at Sultan Hasanudin Airport by more than 2,250%, Ahmad Yani Airport Semarang by 118%, Kualanamu Airport Medan by 82%, and Pinang Sori Airport by 52%.
The tourism destinations with the highest traffic occurred in Parang Tritis Beach with 788%, Sadranan, Krakal and Indrayanti Beach with 260%, Pandawa Beach with 257%, and Ubud with 225%. The center of the crowd on New Year's Eve with the highest traffic occurred in Tugu Yogyakarta at 372%, Alun Alun Yogyakarta at 350%, Simpang Lima Semarang at 320% and Senggigi Krandangan at 300%.
I Gede Darmayusa
Director & Chief Technology Officer XL Axiata